Specialist GP phone consult for PrEP — HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis — anywhere in Australia. Daily and on-demand dosing options discussed. Quarterly screening at the lab is part of standard care.
More than 99% effective at preventing sexually acquired HIV when taken as directed. Same-day phone consults usually available, 7 days a week.
Book a telehealth consult — free with Medicare (bulk-billed)
A Specialist GP reviews your suitability and baseline tests
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It’s a medicine taken by people who don’t have HIV to prevent them from getting it. Taken as prescribed, PrEP is one of the most effective HIV prevention tools available — it works by keeping enough protective medicine in your body that HIV can’t establish an infection if you’re exposed.
PrEP has transformed sexual health. It gives people a way to take control of their own HIV prevention, independent of a partner’s status or condom use, and it’s a normal, responsible part of looking after your health for anyone at higher risk. It’s used by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, and it’s straightforward to start and to stay on.
How effective is PrEP?
When taken consistently as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by around 99%. That makes it more effective than any other single prevention method for HIV. The key word is consistently — PrEP only works if there’s enough medicine in your system, so taking it as directed is what delivers that protection. It’s worth being clear about what PrEP does and doesn’t cover: it is extremely effective against HIV, but it does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, and it’s not a contraceptive.
Who Is PrEP For, and How to Take It
PrEP is for HIV-negative people who are at higher risk of being exposed to HIV. That includes, among others:
Men who have sex with men, and trans and gender-diverse people, who have condomless sex
People whose partner is living with HIV and does not have an undetectable viral load
People with multiple partners or partners of unknown HIV status
People who’ve recently had another STI, which can indicate higher exposure risk
Anyone who feels they may be at risk and wants the reassurance PrEP provides
You don’t need to fit a rigid category to consider PrEP. If you’re wondering whether it’s right for you, that’s exactly the conversation to have with a clinician — they’ll help you weigh it up based on your own situation, without judgement.
Daily vs on-demand PrEP
There’s more than one way to take PrEP, and a clinician will help you choose what fits your life:
Daily PrEP — one tablet every day. This provides continuous protection and suits people who have sex regularly or unpredictably. It’s the option that works for everyone. A long-acting PrEP injection (every 2 months, or twice a year) is also on its way to Australia — you can register your interest.
On-demand (event-based) PrEP — a specific dosing schedule taken around planned sex, sometimes called the 2-1-1 method. It suits some people who have sex less often and can plan ahead. Importantly, on-demand dosing is only recommended for certain groups and types of sex, so it’s not suitable for everyone.
Which approach is right depends on how and how often you have sex, and a clinician will guide you. Many people start on daily PrEP and adjust over time.
How to Get PrEP
Getting PrEP is a simple process. To get PrEP you’ll need a prescription from a doctor, which involves confirming you’re HIV-negative and suitable to start. The usual steps are a consultation (in person or online) to discuss your situation and suitability; baseline tests including an HIV test to confirm you’re negative, kidney function, and an STI screen; your prescription once results confirm you’re good to start; and ongoing care with a review roughly every three months and repeat testing, so you stay protected and well. You don’t need a referral to get PrEP.
Getting PrEP online with Clinic365
PrEP online is one of the most convenient ways to start and stay on it. Through Clinic365’s telehealth service, a Specialist GP holds your consultation by phone, sends a pathology referral to use at a collection centre near you, and provides your prescription once your results are back — all without visiting a clinic in person. Your three-monthly reviews can be done the same way. Getting PrEP online suits people who are busy, live away from a clinic, or simply prefer the privacy of managing it from home. It makes PrEP easy to fit into your life, which matters, because the protection depends on taking it consistently.
Tests, Safety and Other STIs
PrEP involves some simple testing, both before you start and while you’re on it. This isn’t red tape — it’s what keeps PrEP safe and effective.
An HIV test before starting, to confirm you’re HIV-negative. This is essential, because PrEP alone is not adequate treatment for someone who already has HIV.
Kidney function and other baseline tests, as PrEP is processed by the kidneys.
An STI screen, since PrEP doesn’t protect against other STIs and regular screening is part of good care.
Repeat testing roughly every three months while you’re on PrEP — an HIV test, STI screen, and kidney check.
The three-monthly HIV test matters. In the rare event that HIV is acquired while on PrEP, continuing PrEP alone could lead to drug resistance, so regular testing catches this early. This is why PrEP is a doctor-managed medicine rather than something to source without monitoring.
PrEP and other STIs
This is important: PrEP protects against HIV, but not against other STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis or herpes, and it doesn’t prevent pregnancy. That’s not a reason to avoid PrEP — it’s a reason to combine it with regular STI screening, which is built into PrEP care anyway through the three-monthly checks. Many people on PrEP use condoms as well for STI protection, and some add DoxyPEP to reduce the risk of bacterial STIs. Your clinician can talk you through the full picture so your prevention is well-rounded.
Side effects and safety
PrEP is very safe and well tolerated by most people. When side effects occur, they’re usually mild and short-lived — some people notice nausea, headache or tiredness in the first few weeks, which typically settle as the body adjusts. Serious side effects are uncommon, and the routine kidney checks are there to keep things safe. For the large majority, PrEP causes no ongoing problems at all, and it’s designed to be taken safely over the long term.
PrEP vs PEP, and Starting or Stopping
PrEP and PEP are easy to confuse, but they’re used differently:
PrEP is taken before and around potential exposure, on an ongoing basis, to prevent HIV.
PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is taken after a possible exposure, as an emergency measure.
PEP is time-critical. It must be started as soon as possible, and within 72 hours of a possible HIV exposure, then taken for 28 days. If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, don’t wait for a routine appointment — seek urgent care immediately. If you find yourself needing PEP more than occasionally, that’s a strong sign PrEP would suit you better.
Starting, stopping and staying on PrEP
PrEP isn’t a lifelong commitment — you can start it, stop it, and restart it as your circumstances change. If your risk of HIV changes, or you simply want to stop, a clinician will advise how to do so safely, including how long to continue after your last potential exposure. Staying on top of your PrEP health means taking it consistently and keeping up your three-monthly checks. If getting PrEP online helps you do that, it’s easy to book a consult in a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It’s a medicine taken by HIV-negative people to prevent them from getting HIV. Taken as prescribed, it’s one of the most effective HIV prevention tools available, reducing the risk of getting HIV from sex by around 99%. It’s a normal, responsible part of sexual health for anyone at higher risk.
Taken consistently as prescribed, PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by around 99% — more effective than any other single method. The key is taking it consistently, so there’s enough protective medicine in your system. PrEP does not protect against other STIs or prevent pregnancy.
PrEP is for HIV-negative people at higher risk of exposure — including men who have sex with men and trans and gender-diverse people who have condomless sex, people whose partner has HIV without an undetectable viral load, those with multiple partners or partners of unknown status, and anyone who wants the reassurance it provides. A clinician can help you decide.
To get PrEP you need a prescription from a doctor. That involves a consultation, an HIV test to confirm you’re negative, and baseline tests including kidney function and an STI screen. Once results confirm you’re suitable, you get your prescription, then have a review roughly every three months. You don’t need a referral.
Yes. Through a telehealth service you can have your consultation by phone or video, get a pathology referral to use at a collection centre near you, and receive your prescription once results are back — all without visiting a clinic. Your three-monthly reviews can be done online too. Getting PrEP online is convenient and private.
Before starting: an HIV test to confirm you’re negative, kidney function, and an STI screen. While on PrEP: repeat testing roughly every three months, including an HIV test, STI screen and kidney check. This testing keeps PrEP safe and effective and catches any issues early — it’s why PrEP is a doctor-managed medicine.
No. PrEP protects against HIV only — not chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, herpes or other STIs, and it doesn’t prevent pregnancy. That’s why regular STI screening is built into PrEP care through the three-monthly checks. Many people also use condoms, and some add DoxyPEP to reduce the risk of bacterial STIs.
Daily PrEP is one tablet every day, giving continuous protection, and it works for everyone. On-demand (event-based) PrEP is a specific schedule taken around planned sex, sometimes called 2-1-1, and suits some people who have sex less often. On-demand dosing is only recommended for certain groups and types of sex — a clinician will advise which suits you.
PrEP is very safe and well tolerated. When side effects occur they’re usually mild and short-lived — some people notice nausea, headache or tiredness in the first few weeks, which typically settle as the body adjusts. Serious side effects are uncommon, and routine kidney checks keep things safe. Most people have no ongoing problems.
PrEP is taken before and around potential exposure, on an ongoing basis, to prevent HIV. PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is taken after a possible exposure as an emergency measure — it must start within 72 hours and continue for 28 days. If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, seek urgent care immediately rather than waiting.
Yes. PrEP isn’t a lifelong commitment — you can start, stop and restart it as your circumstances change. If your risk changes or you want to stop, a clinician will advise how to do so safely, including how long to continue after your last potential exposure. It’s a flexible tool you control.
Yes. PrEP is designed to be taken safely over the long term, and large numbers of people have used it for years. Routine three-monthly checks, including kidney function, are there to keep it safe. Any side effects are usually mild and settle early. For most people, long-term PrEP causes no ongoing problems.
